You’ve Finished Your Book.
Take it the next level.
With A Manuscript Evaluation
You’ve finished writing your book.
Now what?
Is it ready to pitch to agents? Self publish? Or does it need more work?
Finishing a book is big deal. You have something whole. And I hope you acknowledge that.
But you may be wondering if it’s any good. Will anyone even care to read it?
Maybe you’ve already submitted it to agents and have been getting one rejection after another.
But you have no idea why. Or maybe you got some feedback, and you have no idea how to implement it.
And then you have all your beta readers giving you conflicting feedback. Some say, “Don’t change a thing!” Others say, “Change this, this, and this.”
You thought you had a winning story, but now you’re not so sure.
And the rejection is dismantling everything you believed about your ability to write a great story.
What if you…
Knew exactly where your story’s strengths are, and where the opportunities are for more development.
Knew exactly what to do to improve your manuscript and bring it closer to publication, and which steps to take to revise it.
Were empowered with a clear framework to get the story in your head onto the page.
What exactly is a manuscript evaluation?
A manuscript evaluation is a written assessment, usually between 3 and 10 pages, outlining your story’s strengths, and what elements you can improve.
I don’t just show what to improve. I show you how. And I give you resources to make it happen. I’ll often suggest writing exercises, books to emulate, and curated podcast episodes to help you hone a specific technique. So you can revise your story with more control, confidence, and focus.
Get a manuscript appraisal from a skilled editor.
Hi, I’m Nanci Panuccio.
Editor, story coach, and host of the Writer Unleashed podcast.
I’ve been working with aspiring writers since 2006. I’ve led led live workshops, created online writing courses, and have coached a wide variety of writers at every stage of the writing process.
I know what works in a story, and what doesn’t. What captivates readers and what sends them dozing off, turning on Netflix, or worse, turning to someone else’s pages.
I hold an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts where I learned how to deconstruct stories element by element.
My manuscript evaluations help you know what to leave in, what to leave out, what to deepen, and what precisely to do to bring your book closer to published.
Ready to uplevel your story?
Your investment:
First Chapter Evaluation
up to 25 double-spaced pages- A detailed written review of your first chapter
- Feedback on your first chapter from the point of a view of an editor
- Recommendations on your next steps to take to revise your chapter
- Techniques that will hold you in good stead as you continue to write and revise your book
Full Manuscript Evaluation
for manuscripts up t0 80,000 words- A detailed written review of your entire manuscript
- Feedback on your story from the point of a view of an editor
- Recommendations on next steps you can take to revise your manuscript
- Techniques that empower you to revise on your own with confidence
- A private 60-minute follow up zoom session
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a manuscript evaluation and a developmental edit?
A manuscript evaluation isn’t as comprehensive as a developmental edit. For example, you won’t get edits directly on your manuscript. But you will get a high level written overview of your story, detailing what you do innately well, and what you can develop more. It’s usually the first step before you hire a developmental editor. And because it’s not as comprehensive as a developmental edit, it’s far less expensive. And it will save you money and time in the long run, because when and if you do present it to a developmental editor, your manuscript will be tighter, more cohesive, and more compelling.
How do I decide on a full manuscript vs. first chapter evaluation?
For most writers, it’s a matter of budget. If you can invest for a full manuscript evaluation, that’s preferable because I can see where your story’s going and get a sense of plot, structure, who’s essential to the story, and what’s at play in your story as a whole. A first chapter evaluation is still useful; you’ll still learn a lot about how to improve your manuscript. And anything I bring up in my written evaluation is more than likely happening in your manuscript as a whole.
What's included in the evaluation letter?
You’ll get an overview of your manuscript’s structure, plot, character development, point of view, conflict, suspense, or any other elements at play in your story.
What's your turnaround time?
For full length manuscripts, my turnaround is 4 to 6 weeks. For partial manuscript evaluations, you can expect your evaluation within 2 weeks. I evaluate on a first come, first served basis. As soon as you purchase, you get an email from me. I ask you to send me an attachment of your manuscript, and it goes straight to my queue.
My manuscript is over 80,000 words. How much above your base $1,497 should I expect to pay?
I charge $250 for every 10,000 words above 80,000. So, let’s say your manuscript is 100,000 words. Expect to pay $1,997 for an evaluation.
My story is less than 80,000 words. How much will my evaluation cost?
For manuscripts up to 40,000 words, your investment will be $997.
I still have questions. Can we talk?
Absolutely! Let’s hop on a 30-minute zoom. You can schedule your call by clicking here.